The Correct Instructional Design Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Just like every industry has its way of dealing with organizational and development challenges, the instructional design processes also vary. Some L&D departments prefer linear processes while others go for iterative.
These choices differ due to many factors including Training requirements, available authoring tools, budget and time, etc. No matter what instructional design process is chosen, certain steps are compulsory.
In this article, we will take you through the mandatory steps that are followed in an instructional design process to achieve the maximum success of your eLearning course.
1. Analyze The Requirements
There is a misconception that the course development process starts directly by ‘creating’ the course and its outlines. Well, it does not. There is a lot of planning involved in the instructional design process before the course creation.
It begins with analyzing the Audience, Content, Technology, and Expectations of the client. After a detailed training needs analysis, the subject matter experts (SMEs) and L&D managers are involved to discuss the course and its content.
2. Create a Storyboard
A storyboard helps you place your content in a visual document. Storyboarding can be done on the software, PowerPoint or even a paper.
Once you are done with analyzing the course requirements of the course, it is now time to create the storyboard. This will allow you to convey to the L&D managers how the course will look like and what the learner will experience.
The SMEs and higher-ups are shown the storyboard to pick up any errors and mention the changes if required.
3. Develop The Prototype and Training
This stage involves the actual development process. The prototype is built to test the course and can be easy to make if the first two steps have been done properly.
Once the prototype is built, Ask the client to approve the prototype and point out any deviations from expectations. fixing and managing changes at this step will save time and development efforts during complete development.
4. Check Quality Assurance
After the prototype has been signed off by the L&D authorities and the changes have been ironed out, the course is sent to the quality assurance team. The team runs a final test of the course to check whether it is acceptable to be sent to the learners or not.
From graphics, text to triggers, everything is assessed by the team. The QA can be done multiple times by the team to make sure there are no flaws in the course, and it runs smoothly.
5. Deliver and Market Your Course
Once the course is approved by the QA team, it is not ready to be uploaded on the learning management systems and made available for the learners. The learners can access the published and final version of the course.
If you are someone who is independently making the course, the course must be marketed accurately. You can hire a digital marketing team or an agency for the rest. If it is not in your budget, then go for word of mouth.